SOWELA Students Brought Home Second and Third Place Out of 20-plus Colleges and Universities
(Lake Charles, Louisiana – November 8, 2024)
Five talented students from SOWELA Technical Community College’s Digital Arts and Communication department used their creativity and skills earlier this month to compete in the Houston American Advertising Federation (AAF) Student Conference. SOWELA students Trinity Tieu and Everett Thomas stood out among those in attendance, earning second and third-place spots with their winning teams in this highly competitive event.
“We are thrilled to see our students excel on such a challenging and competitive stage,” said SOWELA Digital Arts and Communication Instructor Darrell Buck. “Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work and to the strength of our Digital Arts program.”
The competition challenged students from over 20 Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas universities, mixing them into teams of eight to nine individuals. Over a demanding eight-hour timeframe, each team was assigned a corporate sponsor to brainstorm, develop and present an advertising campaign. In a real-world test of teamwork, participants took on roles such as Art Director, Copywriter, Marketing Strategist, Media Planner, and New Media Strategist—all essential in delivering a comprehensive solution for their client.
This experience showcased the creativity, hard work and strength of SOWELA’s program. Students worked alongside peers from other institutions, rising to the challenge and being recognized for their contributions.
The competition culminated in an awards ceremony, where Trinity Tieu’s team was announced as the second-place winner, and Everett Thomas’ team placed third. Their achievements are a proud milestone for SOWELA, highlighting the students’ skill and commitment to pushing creative boundaries.
It was an incredible experience for the students, allowing them to collaborate with peers from all over the region and inspiring them to new levels. The pressure to create meaningful work in such a short time offered a real-world application of their dedication to their studies.
SOWELA’s two-year Digital Arts and Communication program leads to an associate of applied science degree with concentrations available in Graphic Design and Media Production. Graduates go on to work as Graphic Designers, Videographers, Digital Marketing Coordinators and Marketing Specialists.
The College is enrolling for Spring 2025, and scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify. For more information about this program or how to enroll, contact SOWELA’s One Stop Enrollment Office at (337) 421-6550 or email onestop@sowela.edu.
The national college review website WalletHub ranked SOWELA as Louisiana’s #1 community college. WalletHub’s rankings are based on “three key dimensions, including 1) Cost & Financing, 2) Education Outcomes and 3) Career Outcomes.” SOWELA ranks in the top 40% of community colleges nationally.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for more than 85 years.